Chapter 25: Late Adulthood: Psychosocial Development

The chapter presents multiple perspectives on late adulthood, beginning with self theories that emphasize how older adults maintain a coherent sense of identity and pursue integrity through life review and integration of past experiences. Socioemotional selectivity theory explains how aging individuals strategically narrow their social networks to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships while developing greater capacity for emotion regulation. The positivity effect describes a documented cognitive shift toward preferring positive memories and experiences over negative ones, contributing to emotional well-being despite physical decline. Stratification theories contextualize these individual experiences within broader social structures, revealing how gender, ethnicity, income, and age intersect to create vastly different aging experiences. Activity theory provides a counterpoint to earlier disengagement models by emphasizing that older adults remain motivated to participate in meaningful activities and social roles. The chapter then explores specific activities that sustain well-being, including continued employment or phased retirement, volunteer work that provides generativity and social connection, and the preference for aging in place within familiar home environments or naturally occurring retirement communities. Religious and political engagement remain important sources of purpose and community. The chapter addresses frailty as a complex condition characterized by reduced physical capacity and limited energy, distinguishing between activities of daily living such as personal hygiene and instrumental activities of daily living that require cognitive and planning abilities. Prevention strategies emphasize the modifiable nature of disability and the protective effects of exercise and cognitive engagement. Finally, the chapter examines caregiving systems for frail older adults, including family-based care guided by filial responsibility norms, integrated care models that balance professional and familial support, and institutional settings ranging from nursing homes to assisted-living facilities. The chapter also addresses the concerning phenomenon of elder abuse and advocates for person-centered care approaches that prioritize individual autonomy and preferences.